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Twins Recall Royce Lewis, Cut James Outman

6/7/2026

Summary

Twins Recall Lewis

The Minnesota Twins recalled infielder Royce Lewis and designated outfielder James Outman on June 6, 2026.
Lewis had been optioned on May 19 after posting a .163 average with a .540 OPS in 31 games.
In Triple-A he hit .333 with a 1.303 OPS, 10 homers and 22 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
Outman appeared in 49 games, batting .156 (10-for-64) with four doubles, one triple, three RBIs and a .479 OPS.

Summary

Shelton Promotes Lewis

Manager Derek Shelton promoted J.J. Lewis to second base and seventh spot in the lineup, with Brooks Lee starting at third versus Kansas City.
Lewis’s promotion follows a demotion and recall tied to two torn ACLs and multiple oblique and hamstring strains.
The move keeps a roster slot for Byron Buxton, who exited with a right-shoulder contusion, while Bell’s slump and Martin’s .129/.176/.214 line since May 16 may curb their roles.

Summary

Lewis Infield Shift

The Twins plan to use Lewis at first and second base to broaden infield versatility.
Manager Derek Shelton will pair Lewis with Luke Keaschall and Kody Clemens at the corners while Brooks Lee remains at third.
Minnesota, a 30-35 win team in June, hopes the experiment ends Lewis’s slump and awaits a call-up for prospect Kaelen Culpepper that could reshape the infield.

History

Historical Context

The 1976 MLB free-agency era began after pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally won the Seitz decision, forcing teams to restructure rosters. That offseason, the New York Yankees signed twelve free agents, allocating $12 million—a 30% payroll surge and league-record spending at the time. In June 2026, the Minnesota Twins recalled Royce Lewis, designated James Outman, and shuffled Byron Buxton’s slot as Derek Shelton sought versatile depth amid injuries. The ongoing roster volatility echoes the 1976 free-agency shock, compelling clubs to value multi-position players and depth for long-term competitiveness.

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Twins Recall Lewis

The Minnesota Twins recalled infielder Royce Lewis and designated outfielder James Outman on June 6, 2026.
Lewis had been optioned on May 19 after posting a .163 average with a .540 OPS in 31 games.
In Triple-A he hit .333 with a 1.303 OPS, 10 homers and 22 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
Outman appeared in 49 games, batting .156 (10-for-64) with four doubles, one triple, three RBIs and a .479 OPS.

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